Promoting and safeguarding plant health is a key strategic principle of the Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025. Ireland is a contracting party of the International Plant Protection Convention of the United Nations, as well as an active member of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation and is cooperating with countries around the world developing global standards to protect plants.
The trade and movement of plants and plant products into and within the EU is governed by the EU Plant Health Regulation 2016/2031. This Regulation sets out a framework of protective measures against the introduction into the EU Community of organisms harmful to plant and plant products, and against their spread within the Community. It provides for a harmonized policy for the 27 members of the EU to prevent the introduction and spread of such organisms.
In June of this year together with Minister Hackett, I launched Ireland’s National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 which, underpinned by eight Key Strategic Actions provides a road map for the horticulture industry to ensure the future economic, social and environmental sustainability of this sector. The amenity sector is identified in the strategy as an area for growth and a number of specific actions to grow the sector have been identified.
The Department provides supports to the Horticulture sector including the nursery stock sector through the Scheme of Investment for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. The 2024 Scheme with a budget of €10 million is open for applications until 15 December.
